The British Conservative Party today ended over 30 years of co-operation over Northern Ireland in protest at the British government's plans to allow Sinn Féin MPs use offices at Westminster.
Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Mr Quentin Davies said that Labour's behaviour had made it impossible to continue a policy of cross-party support for government action in the North.
Fierce opposition is expected in the Commons today as leader of the house Mr Robin Cook seeks to push through a motion enabling MPs who have not taken up their seats to use Westminster facilities and claim allowances to run an office.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph,Mr Davies said that the move was the latest concession to republicanism, meaning the Conservatives could no longer take a bipartisan approach. "We cannot possibly have a bipartisan arrangement in the present circumstances," he said.
But Liberal Democrat leader Mr Charles Kennedy said he supported the move to allow Sinn Féin members access to Westminster facilities. "It seems to me that you have got to look at the broader picture here," he said.
"The situation is far from ideal, but we do after all have a devolved situation within the UK where you have Sinn Féin participating in the governance of one part of the kingdom".
PA